A project to continue to widen portions of U.S. 45 have been green lighted by the Illinois Legislature and Illinois Deparment of Transportation officials.

An IDOT spokesman told The Times there has been an ongoing project to widen U.S. 45 from Harrisburg to Norris City as funding became available.

The necessary paperwork and environmental impact studies have been completed to allow the widening to occur from Eldorado at Illinois 142 north to Illinois 141 south of Norris City.

Funding is now available to begin work on the actual construction of the widened road from Eldorado to the turn off for Texas City. IDOT officials are already at work securing the easements and land purchases to begin the construction during summer 2014.

While no timetable is available for the completion of the project to Illinois 141, the required preliminary work is completed and construction is expected to begin as funding becomes available.